Tom Browne

Surrounded by loved ones, the gentle spirit of Thomas Harrison Browne, Jr., 79, peacefully departed this earth at his home on Saturday, Set. 6, following a long illness. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 11 a.m., at the Louisville United Methodist Church in Louisville, with Rev. Dr. William H. Daniel, church pastor, officiating. Interment and burial services will follow at 3 p.m. at the Eastside Cemetery in Statesboro, GA, with Rev. David Boggs and Joe Cheeks officiating. Active pallbearers will be Larry Rhodes, Joe Cheeks, David Boggs, Ott Stephens, Larry Hodges, and Bob Holbert. Honorary pallbearers will be Tommy New, Rusty Logue, Eugene Cunningham, Billy Jordan, George Lightfoot, Dave Beachy, Robert Carter, Joe James, Dennis Moore, and Sam Neville. The family will receive friends at Taylor Funeral Home in Louisville on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 6 – 8 p.m.

Born in Sneads, FL, he grew up in Wrightsville, GA, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Browne. Following his graduation from Georgia Southern College in Statesboro, where he majored in health and physical education, he began his career as assistant director of the Statesboro Recreation Department; he was then named director and originator of recreation departments in Winter Park, FL and in Cocoa Beach, FL and later returned to Statesboro as director of that recreation department. In 1976 he was named director and organizer of Jefferson County, GA's first county recreation program, a position he held until his retirement in 2002. He served on a number of recreation boards in Florida and Georgia and devoted his life to providing quality recreation activities and programs for all ages. To honor his service and dedication to Jefferson County citizens, the county named its main baseball field "The Tom Browne Field", following his retirement. He was also an active member of the Louisville United Methodist Church and the Louisville Kiwanis Club.

He is survived by his devoted, loving wife of 54 years Patricia Murphy Browne and by their four children: Cynthia Browne Lewis, of Columbus, Ohio; Thomas (Tommy) Harrison Browne, III, of Louisville; Patricia Browne Frye and her husband Haywood, of Millen; and, Albert (Bert) Murphy Browne and his wife Debra, of Atlanta. He is also survived by his much beloved grandchildren: Meagan Frye, of Millen; Tyler Lewis, of Dayton, Ohio; Allissa Lewis, of Atlanta; and Emma and Evan Browne, also of Atlanta, as well as his beloved dog Bobo. The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Louisville United Methodist Church, Louisville, GA.

Taylor Funeral Home of Louisville is in charge of arrangements.

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